Ditto, if it weren't for Dear Science. For me, that was when they became what they had threatened to become; no more "I like the idea of TV on the Radio...". Maximum Balloon is surprisingly great, too.

I'm kind of glad I've fallen out of touch with upcoming releases, 'cause now this new TV On the Radio album is a nice surprise. It was probably announced three months ago.

In Rainbows came out during my gap year, when I was living in LA. I was playing in the band for a friend who is a definite Radiohead superfan. He called my up right when it was announced, and shouted, "WHERE ARE YOU RIGHT NOW?!" I was driving up La Cienega. "REMEMBER IT!" Did I mention that he tends to talk in all-caps? "RADIOHEAD IS RELEASING AN ALBUM IN TEN DAYS!!" He actually whispers in all-caps too. Impossible fellow.

In Rainbows came out during my gap year, when I was living in LA. I was playing in the band for a friend who is a definite Radiohead superfan. He called my up right when it was announced, and shouted, "WHERE ARE YOU RIGHT NOW?!" I was driving up La Cienega. "REMEMBER IT!" Did I mention that he tends to talk in all-caps? "RADIOHEAD IS RELEASING AN ALBUM IN TEN DAYS!!" He actually whispers in all-caps too. Impossible fellow.

ha, that's how i felt when in rainbows got announced. this morning feels similarly beautiful.

I love the title of this record, but I've never been able to figure this band out. I've heard 2 or 3 songs that just knock me over---one of them is "Crystal Queen"--but when I've tried full albums, I never seem to stay interested.

I'll likely just buy The Twilight Singers record today, hopefully on vinyl. I've already heard the other two albums I was really looking forward to (Hayes Carll and Gruff Rhys), but they haven't sold me yet. I need to buy the new Cake album, too. I've been listening to it pretty much nonstop. (And it comes on red vinyl!)

I love the title of this record, but I've never been able to figure this band out. I've heard 2 or 3 songs that just knock me over---one of them is "Crystal Queen"--but when I've tried full albums, I never seem to stay interested.

I don't think any ERP albums are totally no-filler/all-killer, it's just not how he rolls, but they're all good or better, and since it came out, What Are You On (which houses "Crystal Queen") has shifted from an initial "meh" to being possibly my favorite. I think generally speaking you need to live with the albums a while before they sink in; they come from that place of resigned melancholy that tends to resist immediacy, maybe. but I also don't think he's generally going for the knockout effect--something more subtle than that.